Mountain Biking

It’s hard to imagine another metropolitan area, especially on the East Coast, with a better variety of mountain biking opportunities. Richmond really could be mountain biking nirvana.

It all starts downtown, where the trails of the James River Park System wind their way along both the north and south banks of the river. These are world class, technically-challenging trails. There’s an 8-plus-mile loop that stays almost entirely in the park. Riders can connect that with Forest Hill Park’s 3.1 fast, rolling miles for a ride that never gets old.

Other city parks with singletrack are Powhite Park, a place seemingly known only to mountain bikers and beavers, and Larus Park, a true hidden gem near the Huguenot Bridge.

North of town, just outside Ashland, Poor Farm Park offers a spider-webbed network of trails, with steep climbs and descents along with some rocky, rooty sections. And to the south, in Chesterfield County, sits Virginia’s largest state park. At 8,000 acres, Pocahontas boasts over 20 miles of flowing singletrack for every skill level and more than 50 more miles of fire roads and wider trails. It’s a great place for hard core enthusiasts and families alike.

And these are just the highlights. When it comes to mountain biking, Central Virginians are a lucky bunch.